Many classic computer gamers will recall the age-old game Boulder Dash, which was a very heavily ported game and could be found in many formats. It was a very early game from the eighties that was originally created for the Commodore 64 by Peter Liepa and Chris Gray. The game of Boulder Dash featured a protagonist named Rockford who was a miner. Arcadia Systems converted the game to DOS. The game called Rockford is simply the same old puzzle game of Boulder Dash with a reworked title made especially for the DOS format.
Many classic computer gamers will recall the age-old game Boulder Dash, which was a very heavily ported game and could be found in many formats. It was a very early game from the eighties that was originally created for the Commodore 64 by Peter Liepa and Chris Gray. The game of Boulder Dash featured a protagonist named Rockford who was a miner. Arcadia Systems converted the game to DOS. The game called Rockford is simply the same old puzzle game of Boulder Dash with a reworked title made especially for the DOS format. With the conversion, the game was given a few new themes, such as an intergalactic theme and an Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom background, but the game play is still identical,
as is the overall look and feel of the game.
As mentioned above, the hero of this game is Rockford, the courageous little prospector who is always on the lookout for more diamonds. There are many levels to the game, and all of them are filled with diamonds and other gems, and Rockford has to figure out how to collect them in this puzzle type environment. There will avalanches, falling rocks, and underground explosions that Rockford simply cannot combat and must avoid. He will also find many dangerous subterranean creatures that mean to do him harm.
Similar to Dig Dug, the gaming environment is made up mainly of dirt, which Rockford has to tunnel through. As he digs, he will leave tunnels behind him. Occasionally as he digs, Rockford will come upon a wall that will need to be dealt with. One type is destructible and Rockford will be able to bypass it using a type of explosive device. The other type is permanent, and cannot be negotiated. These are made of some titanium substance and are most often found at the edge of the levels where Rockford isn’t going to want to go anyway. As he tunnels about, blowing up walls, he is seeking two things. Of course, he wants to collect as many gems as possible, but he also wants to find the hidden exit and get out of the level before danger befalls him.
Most of the enemies Rockford will encounter in the game are insects or some type of simple life form. They all have their own patterns of movement and attack methods, which Rockford will learn to identify and either avoid or deal with. Aside from the insects, there are magical and expanding walls that will add a twisted challenge to Rockford’s tunneling.
This is a classic game and many people will likely download it out of pure nostalgia. As puzzlers go, it is still fast paced and fun, and the user will likely find himself dead out of greed for just one more gem more than once. This is a great stress reliever during the lunch break or a time killer on a rainy afternoon.
